Studs Up Skippers GW32

Hi everybody, it’s been a pretty nice international break actually, with some interesting games and amazing goals (Vardy, Payet anyone?). Nothing beats a weekend of league football though. Let’s get ready to rumble!

The Top 3

1. Dimitri Payet

Payet has been walking on water lately: 4 assists and 2 goals in the last 5 EPL games plus 2 great performances with the French national team, that probably earned him a ticket to the Euro! On top of that he didn’t play too much during the break, only entering as a substitute in the 2nd game. He’s playing a shaky Palace which conceded 10 goals in their last 4 away games. If you put form first, he’s your man!

The pros: great form, West Ham’s top play maker, good fixture at homeThe cons: he assists more than he scores

2. Sergio Aguero

City has become quite an ordinary team lately with 3 blanks in the last 4 games and only 1 win in the last 6! Even Aguero himself blanked 4 times in the last 5 games. To add to a lackluster form, he just came back from Bolivia a few days ago, even though he didn’t play a lot during the break (67 minutes against Chile, 12 minutes against Bolivia). Nevertheless it’s still tempting to captain Aguero when he’s playing Bournemouth and he’s actually leading most captain polls right now. The Cherries defense hasn’t been horrible but it hasn’t been good either, like in that last game against Spurs in which they conceded 3 goals.

The pros: he’s Sergio Aguero and he’s playing Bournemouth. Period.The cons: terrible form, just coming back from South America

3. Mesut Ozil

He may have blanked in the last 3 games but I don’t think you should lose confidence just yet, especially as the Gunners welcome Watford to the Emirates. Igahlo’s teammates have lost their last 3 games and appear quite weak at the moment. That being said it’s hard to predict which Arsenal we’re going to see this weekend…the one that beat the Toffees away (last gameweek) or the one that lost to Swansea at home? By the way Ozil played both games during the international break. He bagged one goal and one assist though, which may boost his confidence. A risky pick, definitely.

The pros: Arsenal’s top play maker, good fixture at homeThe cons: poor form, played 2 full games during the international break

The punt.

Philippe Coutinho

Firmino looks like he won’t be able to play so Couthinho should have the attacking spot in the midfield that he loves so much. Keep in mind he’s always been an inconsistent player though and he just came back from South America (but only played about 20 minutes during the break). To be honest, I just see the game against Spurs being a potential goal fest and if that’s the case he should be involved!

The pros: very advanced position, on a good day he’s a great play maker, Spurs need a win and the Reds love to attack therefore this game could be a goal festThe cons: inconsistent, just coming back from South America, Spurs have had one of the best defense in the league